Shooting Glasses: Prescription or Contacts?

I wear contacts, its a lot easier to get assorted glasses that way...sun-shoot-etc...

I use prescription glasses. I never had good luck shooting with contacts. They would dry out right about when I had a shot set up and I'd have to blink through it. Plus my contacts didn't correct for my astigmatism. My prescription is about the same strength.

Well, I either wear Rx safety glasses when shooting (Outdoor) or oversized glasses with side shields over my regular glasses (indoor). I had trouble with the contacts for astigmatism. They would float and blur at inconvenient moments. So I'd have to advise the Rx glasses. (you may have better luck with contacts, but that was my experience)

You need protection as well as correction. Get shooting glasses. If you are shooting for precision, I strongly recommend contacting Dr. Alan Toler at www.customsightpicture.com and get his kit to determine exactly what prescription you need to shoot your best.

I use oversized safety glasses on top of my regular lenses. I don't wear contacts and I'm not into high precision shooting. If I were I'd get special lenses. I practice for self defense mostly. I don't think it's realistic to wear special lenses and then have to shoot with normal lenses. If it's sport then gearing up to participate is a different situation altogether. YMMV

They would dry out right about when I had a shot set up and I'd have to blink through it. Plus my contacts didn't correct for my astigmatism.

Click to expand...

I had the same problems until I switched to Accuview. Can't remember the last time I even used drops. Their astigmatism lens seems to work well, but still not "perfect."

I use contacts and regular glasses - I believe I get better peripheral vision for starters. Secondly, if my scrip changes as I get older, my shooting glasses don't have to be changed. Since I shoot shotguns, changing a lot of colored lenses can get expensive - even more so if they are prescription

Normally, I wear prescription Varilux (no lines) bi-focals while shooting;
as these old eyes are not getting any younger~! One exception is, one
really bright sunny days here in The Deep South I choose too wear my
Costa Del Mar sun glasses with the 580 (glass) lens; as they seem too
work really well for me~!

I use regular perscription glasses. Just got a perscription filled for "computer use" which should work pretty well for handgun shooting. I have yet to try them out except for just aiming and I can definitely see the front sight much more clearly now. Target will be blurry.

When shooting skeet and sporting regularly, I went from Rx glasses to contacts (with wraparound safety glasses) and my scores increased markedly.
The improvement was from better peripheral vision, and the ability to used tinted lenses as dictated by light conditions.

Would the same result from Rx glasses with interchangeable wraparound lenses? Perhaps.
At considerable cost.

I had prescription safety glasses made with side shields as well.

They work great and I wish i had done that years earlier.

For years I just wore eyeshields that fit over my glasses, until I went cheap and started wearing army-issue glasses which were so thick, my eyeshields had to sit on the glasses rather than my nose. I got some Wiley-X SG-1 goggles, because they are army authorized, and I don't know why I lived without them so long. (I got clear and dark lenses for the Wiles, I can switch them out.)

I use soft Contacts. I'm near sighted and see better with contacts than glasses. I find it easier to find appropriate safety glasses than perscription glasses. Meaning it is easy and cheaper to go from clear, yellow, darken, or vermillion color lenses, than getting different shades of perscription glasses. Contacts also give me better side vision. Only draw back is the summer time, getting sweat in the eye... But that happens with glasses too. No Drops are needed.

As a safety officer/Range officer, in many cases I can see the scores before the shooter and score keeper moves forward to the targets. Just wish that when I'm shooting, I can see those holes prior to the last shot and the time is final... Sometimes it's those darn invisable bullets that get me in trouble...

Your going to need to get what works for you. Some people (like one of my son's) can not wear contacts. Some do not want to wear glasses.... Vanity issue. Which one gives you the better vision? That's what I'd pick!

We have done several posts on this subject, when you have the time try a search, it has been discussed in depth. There are many options.